Protecting the heart of freshwater systems.




A recent analysis by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) revealed a stark figure. Surface water bodies, such as lakes, are shrinking or being lost entirely in 364 basins worldwide. The degradation of lakes is not just an environmental threat; it also affects communities that rely on them for survival.

Indonesia is leading the fight to protect lakes. Since championing the first-ever United Nations Environment Assembly resolution on Sustainable Lake Management in 2022, the country has helped place lakes at the centre of global water discussions, including during the United Nations 2023 Water Conference and the tenth World Water Forum, in which lakes featured prominently in the Ministerial Declaration.

With the recent adoption of the United Nations System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation, the stage is set for even greater cooperative action. But why this urgency? Because lakes are under siege.

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